Backoff snooze wake power consumption within single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications

ABSTRACT

Backoff snooze wake power consumption within single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. If a communication (e.g., transmission) attempt fails (e.g., by a wireless station (STA), smart meter station (SMSTA), etc.), then a backoff snooze countdown may be performed before a subsequent communication is attempted. Also, if communication activity is detected on the communication medium, then such a backoff snooze countdown may be performed before monitoring the communication medium or a subsequent communication attempt is made. Such a backoff snooze countdown may be based on a codeword value (e.g., such as provided within a beacon received from an access point (AP)), and different respective backoff snooze countdowns may be made based on different respective codeword values. Such backoff snooze countdowns are performed outside of a restricted access window (RAW) in which only devices of a particular class (e.g., low-power, Z, etc.) have access to the communication medium.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS/PATENT APPLICATIONS ProvisionalPriority Claims

The present U.S. Utility patent application claims priority pursuant to35 U.S.C. §119(e) to the following U.S. Provisional patent applicationwhich is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety andmade part of the present U.S. Utility patent application for allpurposes:

1. U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/585,609, entitled“Media access control (MAC) for single user, multiple user, multipleaccess, and/or MIMO wireless communications,” (Attorney Docket No.BP24433), filed Jan. 11, 2012, pending.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

1. U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Targetwake time (TWT) within single user, multiple user, multiple access,and/or MIMO wireless communications,” (Attorney Docket No. BP24433),filed concurrently on Jan. 11, 2013, pending.

2. U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 13/739,821, entitled “One ormultiple bit restricted access window (RAW) end point determinationwithin for single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMOwireless communications,” (Attorney Docket No. BP24433.1), filedconcurrently on Jan. 11, 2013, pending.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The following IEEE standards/draft standards are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety and are made part of the presentU.S. Utility patent application for all purposes:

1. IEEE Std 802.11™-2012, “IEEE Standard for Informationtechnology—Telecommunications and information exchange betweensystems—Local and metropolitan area networks—Specific requirements; Part11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY)Specifications,” IEEE Computer Society, Sponsored by the LAN/MANStandards Committee, IEEE Std 802.11™-2012, (Revision of IEEE Std802.11-2007), 2793 total pages (incl. pp. i-xcvi, 1-2695).

2. IEEE Std 802.11n™-2009, “IEEE Standard for Informationtechnology—Telecommunications and information exchange betweensystems—Local and metropolitan area networks—Specific requirements; Part11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY)Specifications; Amendment 5: Enhancements for Higher Throughput,” IEEEComputer Society, IEEE Std 802.11n™-2009, (Amendment to IEEE Std802.11™-2007 as amended by IEEE Std 802.11k™-2008, IEEE Std802.11r™-2008, IEEE Std 802.11y™-2008, and IEEE Std 802.11r™-2009), 536total pages (incl. pp. i-xxxii, 1-502).

3. IEEE P802.11ac™/D4.1, November 2012, “Draft STANDARD for InformationTechnology—Telecommunications and information exchange betweensystems—Local and metropolitan area networks—Specific requirements, Part11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY)specifications, Amendment 4: Enhancements for Very High Throughput forOperation in Bands below 6 GHz,” Prepared by the 802.11 Working Group ofthe 802 Committee, 420 total pages (incl. pp. i-xxv, 1-395).

4. IEEE P802.11ad™/D9.0, July 2012, (Draft Amendment based on IEEE802.11-2012) (Amendment to IEEE 802.11-2012 as amended by IEEE802.11ae-2012 and IEEE 802.11aa-2012), “IEEE P802.11ad™/D9.0 DraftStandard for Information Technology—Telecommunications and InformationExchange Between Systems—Local and Metropolitan Area Networks—SpecificRequirements—Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) andPhysical Layer (PHY) Specifications—Amendment 3: Enhancements for VeryHigh Throughput in the 60 GHz Band,” Sponsor: IEEE 802.11 Committee ofthe IEEE Computer Society, IEEE-SA Standards Board, 679 total pages.

5. IEEE Std 802.11ae™-2012, “IEEE Standard for Informationtechnology—Telecommunications and information exchange betweensystems—Local and metropolitan area networks—Specific requirements; Part11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY)Specifications,” “Amendment 1: Prioritization of Management Frames,”IEEE Computer Society, Sponsored by the LAN/MAN Standards Committee,IEEE Std 802.11ae™-2012, (Amendment to IEEE Std 802.11™-2012), 52 totalpages (incl. pp. i-xii, 1-38).

6. IEEE P802.11af™/D2.2, November 2012, (Amendment to IEEE Std802.11™-2012, as amended by IEEE Std 802.11ae™-2012, IEEE Std802.11aa™-2012, IEEE Std 802.11ad™/D9.0, and IEEE Std 802.11ac™/D4.0),“Draft Standard for Information Technology—Telecommunications andinformation exchange between systems—Local and metropolitan areanetworks—Specific requirements—Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium AccessControl (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications—Amendment 5: TVWhite Spaces Operation,” Prepared by the 802.11 Working Group of theIEEE 802 Committee, 324 total pages (incl. pp. i-xxiv, 1-300).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to communication systems; and, moreparticularly, it relates to power and/or energy consumption and/orsavings within single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMOwireless communications.

2. Description of Related Art

Communication systems are known to support wireless and wire linedcommunications between wireless and/or wire lined communication devices.Such communication systems range from national and/or internationalcellular telephone systems to the Internet to point-to-point in-homewireless networks. Each type of communication system is constructed, andhence operates, in accordance with one or more communication standards.For instance, wireless communication systems may operate in accordancewith one or more standards including, but not limited to, IEEE 802.11x,Bluetooth, advanced mobile phone services (AMPS), digital AMPS, globalsystem for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access(CDMA), local multi-point distribution systems (LMDS),multi-channel-multi-point distribution systems (MMDS), and/or variationsthereof.

In some instances, wireless communication between a transmitter andreceiver is a single-output-single-input (SISO) communication, even ifthe receiver includes multiple antennae that are used as diversityantennae (i.e., selecting one of them to receive the incoming radiofrequency (RF) signals). For SISO wireless communications, a transceiverincludes one transmitter and one receiver. Currently, most wirelesslocal area networks (WLAN) (e.g., IEEE 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b,802.11g) employ SISO communications.

Other types of wireless communications includesingle-input-multiple-output (SIMO) (e.g., a single transmitterprocesses data into RF signals that are transmitted to a receiver thatincludes two or more antennae and two or more receiver paths),multiple-input-single-output (MISO) (e.g., a transmitter includes two ormore transmission paths (e.g., digital to analog converter, filters,up-conversion module, and a power amplifier) that each converts acorresponding portion of baseband signals into RF signals, which aretransmitted via corresponding antennae to a receiver), andmultiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) (e.g., a transmitter and receivereach include multiple paths such that a transmitter parallel processesdata using a spatial and time encoding function to produce two or morestreams of data and a receiver receives the multiple RF signals viamultiple receiver paths that recapture the streams of data utilizing aspatial and time decoding function).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a wirelesscommunication system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a wirelesscommunication device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of an access point (AP)and multiple wireless local area network (WLAN) devices operatingaccording to one or more various aspects and/or embodiments of theinvention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a wirelesscommunication device, and clusters, as may be employed for supportingcommunications with at least one additional wireless communicationdevice.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency DivisionMultiplexing).

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a number of wireless communicationdevices implemented in various locations in an environment including abuilding or structure.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a number of wireless communicationdevices implemented in various locations in a vehicular environment.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of a number of wireless communicationdevices implemented in various locations throughout a broadlydistributed industrial environment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a wirelesscommunication system including multiple wireless communication devices.

FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are diagrams illustrating embodiments of methods foroperating one or more wireless communication devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a wirelesscommunication system 10 that includes a plurality of base stationsand/or access points 12-16, a plurality of wireless communicationdevices 18-32 and a network hardware component 34. The wirelesscommunication devices 18-32 may be laptop host computers 18 and 26,personal digital assistant hosts 20 and 30, personal computer hosts 24and 32 and/or cellular telephone hosts 22 and 28. The details of anembodiment of such wireless communication devices are described ingreater detail with reference to FIG. 2.

The base stations (BSs) or access points (APs) 12-16 are operablycoupled to the network hardware 34 via local area network connections36, 38 and 40. The network hardware 34, which may be a router, switch,bridge, modem, system controller, etc., provides a wide area networkconnection 42 for the communication system 10. Each of the base stationsor access points 12-16 has an associated antenna or antenna array tocommunicate with the wireless communication devices in its area.Typically, the wireless communication devices register with a particularbase station or access point 12-14 to receive services from thecommunication system 10. For direct connections (i.e., point-to-pointcommunications), wireless communication devices communicate directly viaan allocated channel.

Typically, base stations are used for cellular telephone systems (e.g.,advanced mobile phone services (AMPS), digital AMPS, global system formobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), localmulti-point distribution systems (LMDS), multi-channel-multi-pointdistribution systems (MMDS), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution(EDGE), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), high-speed downlink packetaccess (HSDPA), high-speed uplink packet access (HSUPA and/or variationsthereof) and like-type systems, while access points are used for in-homeor in-building wireless networks (e.g., IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, ZigBee,any other type of radio frequency based network protocol and/orvariations thereof). Regardless of the particular type of communicationsystem, each wireless communication device includes a built-in radioand/or is coupled to a radio. Such wireless communication devices mayoperate in accordance with the various aspects of the invention aspresented herein to enhance performance, reduce costs, reduce size,and/or enhance broadband applications.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a wirelesscommunication device that includes the host device 18-32 and anassociated radio 60. For cellular telephone hosts, the radio 60 is abuilt-in component. For personal digital assistants hosts, laptop hosts,and/or personal computer hosts, the radio 60 may be built-in or anexternally coupled component. For access points or base stations, thecomponents are typically housed in a single structure.

As illustrated, the host device 18-32 includes a processing module 50,memory 52, radio interface 54, input interface 58 and output interface56. The processing module 50 and memory 52 execute the correspondinginstructions that are typically done by the host device. For example,for a cellular telephone host device, the processing module 50 performsthe corresponding communication functions in accordance with aparticular cellular telephone standard.

The radio interface 54 allows data to be received from and sent to theradio 60. For data received from the radio 60 (e.g., inbound data), theradio interface 54 provides the data to the processing module 50 forfurther processing and/or routing to the output interface 56. The outputinterface 56 provides connectivity to an output display device such as adisplay, monitor, speakers, etc. such that the received data may bedisplayed. The radio interface 54 also provides data from the processingmodule 50 to the radio 60. The processing module 50 may receive theoutbound data from an input device such as a keyboard, keypad,microphone, etc. via the input interface 58 or generate the data itself.For data received via the input interface 58, the processing module 50may perform a corresponding host function on the data and/or route it tothe radio 60 via the radio interface 54.

Radio 60 includes a host interface 62, a baseband processing module 64,memory 66, a plurality of radio frequency (RF) transmitters 68-72, atransmit/receive (T/R) module 74, a plurality of antennae 82-86, aplurality of RF receivers 76-80, and a local oscillation module 100. Thebaseband processing module 64, in combination with operationalinstructions stored in memory 66, execute digital receiver functions anddigital transmitter functions, respectively. The digital receiverfunctions include, but are not limited to, digital intermediatefrequency to baseband conversion, demodulation, constellation demapping,decoding, de-interleaving, fast Fourier transform, cyclic prefixremoval, space and time decoding, and/or descrambling. The digitaltransmitter functions, as will be described in greater detail withreference to later Figures, include, but are not limited to, scrambling,encoding, interleaving, constellation mapping, modulation, inverse fastFourier transform, cyclic prefix addition, space and time encoding,and/or digital baseband to IF conversion. The baseband processingmodules 64 may be implemented using one or more processing devices. Sucha processing device may be a microprocessor, micro-controller, digitalsignal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, fieldprogrammable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logiccircuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device thatmanipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based on operationalinstructions. The memory 66 may be a single memory device or a pluralityof memory devices. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory,random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, staticmemory, dynamic memory, flash memory, and/or any device that storesdigital information. Note that when the processing module 64 implementsone or more of its functions via a state machine, analog circuitry,digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the memory storing thecorresponding operational instructions is embedded with the circuitrycomprising the state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry,and/or logic circuitry.

In operation, the radio 60 receives outbound data 88 from the hostdevice via the host interface 62. The baseband processing module 64receives the outbound data 88 and, based on a mode selection signal 102,produces one or more outbound symbol streams 90. The mode selectionsignal 102 will indicate a particular mode as are illustrated in themode selection tables as may be understood by the reader. For example,the mode selection signal 102 may indicate a frequency band of 2.4 GHzor 5 GHz, a channel bandwidth of 20 or 22 MHz (e.g., channels of 20 or22 MHz width) and a maximum bit rate of 54 megabits-per-second. In otherembodiments, the channel bandwidth may extend up to 1.28 GHz or widerwith supported maximum bit rates extending to 1 gigabit-per-second orgreater. In this general category, the mode selection signal willfurther indicate a particular rate ranging from 1 megabit-per-second to54 megabits-per-second. In addition, the mode selection signal willindicate a particular type of modulation, which includes, but is notlimited to, Barker Code Modulation, BPSK, QPSK, CCK, 16 QAM and/or 64QAM. Also, in such mode selection tables, a code rate is supplied aswell as number of coded bits per subcarrier (NBPSC), coded bits per OFDMsymbol (NCBPS), data bits per OFDM symbol (NDBPS). The mode selectionsignal may also indicate a particular channelization for thecorresponding mode which for the information in one of the modeselection tables with reference to another of the mode selection tables.It is of course noted that other types of channels, having differentbandwidths, may be employed in other embodiments without departing fromthe scope and spirit of the invention.

The baseband processing module 64, based on the mode selection signal102 produces the one or more outbound symbol streams 90 from the outputdata 88. For example, if the mode selection signal 102 indicates that asingle transmit antenna is being utilized for the particular mode thathas been selected, the baseband processing module 64 will produce asingle outbound symbol stream 90. Alternatively, if the mode selectionsignal indicates 2, 3 or 4 antennae, the baseband processing module 64will produce 2, 3 or 4 outbound symbol streams 90 corresponding to thenumber of antennae from the output data 88.

Depending on the number of outbound streams 90 produced by the basebandmodule 64, a corresponding number of the RF transmitters 68-72 will beenabled to convert the outbound symbol streams 90 into outbound RFsignals 92. The transmit/receive module 74 receives the outbound RFsignals 92 and provides each outbound RF signal to a correspondingantenna 82-86.

When the radio 60 is in the receive mode, the transmit/receive module 74receives one or more inbound RF signals via the antennae 82-86. The T/Rmodule 74 provides the inbound RF signals 94 to one or more RF receivers76-80. The RF receiver 76-80 converts the inbound RF signals 94 into acorresponding number of inbound symbol streams 96. The number of inboundsymbol streams 96 will correspond to the particular mode in which thedata was received (recall that the mode may be any one of the modeselection tables referenced elsewhere herein). The baseband processingmodule 64 receives the inbound symbol streams 96 and converts them intoinbound data 98, which is provided to the host device 18-32 via the hostinterface 62.

In one embodiment of radio 60 it includes a transmitter and a receiver.The transmitter may include a MAC module, a PLCP module, and a PMDmodule. The Medium Access Control (MAC) module, which may be implementedwith the processing module 64, is operably coupled to convert a MACService Data Unit (MSDU) into a MAC Protocol Data Unit (MPDU) inaccordance with a WLAN protocol. The Physical Layer ConvergenceProcedure (PLCP) Module, which may be implemented in the processingmodule 64, is operably coupled to convert the MPDU into a PLCP ProtocolData Unit (PPDU) in accordance with the WLAN protocol. The PhysicalMedium Dependent (PMD) module is operably coupled to convert the PPDUinto a plurality of radio frequency (RF) signals in accordance with oneof a plurality of operating modes of the WLAN protocol, wherein theplurality of operating modes includes multiple input and multiple outputcombinations.

An embodiment of the Physical Medium Dependent (PMD) module includes anerror protection module, a demultiplexing module, and a plurality ofdirection conversion modules. The error protection module, which may beimplemented in the processing module 64, is operably coupled torestructure a PPDU (PLCP (Physical Layer Convergence Procedure) ProtocolData Unit) to reduce transmission errors producing error protected data.The demultiplexing module is operably coupled to divide the errorprotected data into a plurality of error protected data streams Theplurality of direct conversion modules is operably coupled to convertthe plurality of error protected data streams into a plurality of radiofrequency (RF) signals.

As one of average skill in the art will appreciate, the wirelesscommunication device of FIG. 2 may be implemented using one or moreintegrated circuits. For example, the host device may be implemented onone integrated circuit, the baseband processing module 64 and memory 66may be implemented on a second integrated circuit, and the remainingcomponents of the radio 60, less the antennae 82-86, may be implementedon a third integrated circuit. As an alternate example, the radio 60 maybe implemented on a single integrated circuit. As yet another example,the processing module 50 of the host device and the baseband processingmodule 64 may be a common processing device implemented on a singleintegrated circuit. Further, the memory 52 and memory 66 may beimplemented on a single integrated circuit and/or on the same integratedcircuit as the common processing modules of processing module 50 and thebaseband processing module 64.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of an access point (AP)and multiple wireless local area network (WLAN) devices operatingaccording to one or more various aspects and/or embodiments of theinvention. The AP point 300 may compatible with any number ofcommunication protocols and/or standards, e.g., IEEE 802.11(a), IEEE802.11(b), IEEE 802.11(g), IEEE 802.11(n), as well as in accordance withvarious aspects of invention. According to certain aspects of thepresent invention, the AP supports backwards compatibility with priorversions of the IEEE 802.11x standards as well. According to otheraspects of the present invention, the AP 300 supports communicationswith the WLAN devices 302, 304, and 306 with channel bandwidths, MIMOdimensions, and at data throughput rates unsupported by the prior IEEE802.11x operating standards. For example, the access point 300 and WLANdevices 302, 304, and 306 may support channel bandwidths from those ofprior version devices and from 40 MHz to 1.28 GHz and above. The accesspoint 300 and WLAN devices 302, 304, and 306 support MIMO dimensions to4×4 and greater. With these characteristics, the access point 300 andWLAN devices 302, 304, and 306 may support data throughput rates to 1GHz and above.

The AP 300 supports simultaneous communications with more than one ofthe WLAN devices 302, 304, and 306. Simultaneous communications may beserviced via OFDM tone allocations (e.g., certain number of OFDM tonesin a given cluster), MIMO dimension multiplexing, or via othertechniques. With some simultaneous communications, the AP 300 mayallocate one or more of the multiple antennae thereof respectively tosupport communication with each WLAN device 302, 304, and 306, forexample.

Further, the AP 300 and WLAN devices 302, 304, and 306 are backwardscompatible with the IEEE 802.11(a), (b), (g), and (n) operatingstandards. In supporting such backwards compatibility, these devicessupport signal formats and structures that are consistent with theseprior operating standards.

Generally, communications as described herein may be targeted forreception by a single receiver or for multiple individual receivers(e.g. via multi-user multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO), and/orOFDMA transmissions, which are different than single transmissions witha multi-receiver address). For example, a single OFDMA transmission usesdifferent tones or sets of tones (e.g., clusters or channels) to senddistinct sets of information, each set of the sets of informationtransmitted to one or more receivers simultaneously in the time domain.Again, an OFDMA transmission sent to one user is equivalent to an OFDMtransmission (e.g., OFDM may be viewed as being a subset of OFDMA). Asingle MU-MIMO transmission may include spatially-diverse signals over acommon set of tones, each containing distinct information and eachtransmitted to one or more distinct receivers. Some single transmissionsmay be a combination of OFDMA and MU-MIMO. Multi-user (MU), as describedherein, may be viewed as being multiple users sharing at least onecluster (e.g., at least one channel within at least one band) at a sametime.

MIMO transceivers illustrated may include SISO, SIMO, and MISOtransceivers. The clusters employed for such communications (e.g., OFDMAcommunications) may be continuous (e.g., adjacent to one another) ordiscontinuous (e.g., separated by a guard interval of band gap).Transmissions on different OFDMA clusters may be simultaneous ornon-simultaneous. Such wireless communication devices as describedherein may be capable of supporting communications via a single clusteror any combination thereof. Legacy users and new version users (e.g.,TGac MU-MIMO, OFDMA, MU-MIMO/OFDMA, etc.) may share bandwidth at a giventime or they can be scheduled at different times for certainembodiments. Such a MU-MIMO/OFDMA transmitter (e.g., an AP or a STA) maytransmit packets to more than one receiving wireless communicationdevice (e.g., STA) on the same cluster (e.g., at least one channelwithin at least one band) in a single aggregated packet (such as beingtime multiplexed). In such an instance, channel training may be requiredfor all communication links to the respective receiving wirelesscommunication devices (e.g., STAs).

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a wirelesscommunication device, and clusters, as may be employed for supportingcommunications with at least one additional wireless communicationdevice. Generally speaking, a cluster may be viewed as a depiction ofthe mapping of tones, such as for an OFDM symbol, within or among one ormore channels (e.g., sub-divided portions of the spectrum) that may besituated in one or more bands (e.g., portions of the spectrum separatedby relatively larger amounts). As an example, various channels of 20 MHzmay be situated within or centered around a 5 GHz band. The channelswithin any such band may be continuous (e.g., adjacent to one another)or discontinuous (e.g., separated by some guard interval or band gap).Oftentimes, one or more channels may be situated within a given band,and different bands need not necessarily have a same number of channelstherein. Again, a cluster may generally be understood as any combinationof one or more channels among one or more bands.

The wireless communication device of this diagram may be of any of thevarious types and/or equivalents described herein (e.g., AP, WLANdevice, or other wireless communication device including, though notlimited to, any of those depicted in FIG. 1, etc.). The wirelesscommunication device includes multiple antennae from which one or moresignals may be transmitted to one or more receiving wirelesscommunication devices and/or received from one or more other wirelesscommunication devices.

Such clusters may be used for transmissions of signals via various oneor more selected antennae. For example, different clusters are shown asbeing used to transmit signals respectively using different one or moreantennae.

Also, it is noted that, with respect to certain embodiments, generalnomenclature may be employed wherein a transmitting wirelesscommunication device (e.g., such as being an Access point (AP), or awireless station (STA) operating as an ‘AP’ with respect to other STAs)initiates communications, and/or operates as a network controller typeof wireless communication device, with respect to a number of other,receiving wireless communication devices (e.g., such as being STAs), andthe receiving wireless communication devices (e.g., such as being STAs)responding to and cooperating with the transmitting wirelesscommunication device in supporting such communications. Of course, whilethis general nomenclature of transmitting wireless communicationdevice(s) and receiving wireless communication device(s) may be employedto differentiate the operations as performed by such different wirelesscommunication devices within a communication system, all such wirelesscommunication devices within such a communication system may of coursesupport bi-directional communications to and from other wirelesscommunication devices within the communication system. In other words,the various types of transmitting wireless communication device(s) andreceiving wireless communication device(s) may all supportbi-directional communications to and from other wireless communicationdevices within the communication system. Generally speaking, suchcapability, functionality, operations, etc. as described herein may beapplied to any wireless communication device.

Various aspects and principles, and their equivalents, of the inventionas presented herein may be adapted for use in various standards,protocols, and/or recommended practices (including those currently underdevelopment) such as those in accordance with IEEE 802.11x (e.g., wherex is a, b, g, n, ac, ad, ae, af, ah, etc.).

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment 500 of OFDM (Orthogonal FrequencyDivision Multiplexing). OFDM modulation may be viewed as dividing up anavailable spectrum into a plurality of narrowband sub-carriers (e.g.,lower data rate carriers). Typically, the frequency responses of thesesub-carriers are overlapping and orthogonal. Each sub-carrier may bemodulated using any of a variety of modulation coding techniques.

OFDM modulation operates by performing simultaneous transmission of alarger number of narrowband carriers (or multi-tones). Oftentimes aguard interval (GI) or guard space is also employed between the variousOFDM symbols to try to minimize the effects of ISI (Inter-SymbolInterference) that may be caused by the effects of multi-path within thecommunication system (which can be particularly of concern in wirelesscommunication systems). In addition, a CP (Cyclic Prefix) may also beemployed within the guard interval to allow switching time (when jumpingto a new band) and to help maintain orthogonality of the OFDM symbols.Generally speaking, OFDM system design is based on the expected delayspread within the communication system (e.g., the expected delay spreadof the communication channel).

In certain instances, various wireless communication devices may beimplemented to support communications associated with monitoring and/orsensing of any of a variety of different conditions, parameters, etc.and provide such information to another wireless communication device.For example, in some instances, a wireless communication device may beimplemented as a smart meter station (SMSTA), having certaincharacteristics similar to a wireless station (STA) such as in thecontext of a wireless local area network (WLAN), yet is operative toperform such communications associated with one or more measurements inaccordance with monitoring and/or sensing. In certain applications, suchdevices may operate only very rarely. For example, when compared to theperiods of time in which such a device is in power savings mode (e.g., asleep mode, a reduced functionality operational mode a lowered poweroperational mode, etc.), the operational periods of time may beminiscule in comparison (e.g., only a few percentage of the periods oftime in which the device is in such a power savings mode [such as 1%,5%, 10%, etc.]). Generally speaking, such a SMSTA may operate in theless than full power state for at least one order of magnituderelatively longer time duration than in the full power state (e.g., 10×as much time spent in the less than full power state than in the fullpower state).

For example, such a device may awaken from such a power savings modeonly to perform certain operations. For example, such a device mayawaken from such a power savings mode to perform sensing and/ormeasurement of one or more parameters, conditions, constraints, etc.During such an operational period (e.g., in which the device is not in apower savings mode), the device may also perform transmission of suchinformation to another wireless communication device (e.g., an accesspoint (AP), another SMSTA, a wireless station (STA), or such an SMSTA orSTA operating as an AP, etc.). It is noted that such a device may enterinto an operational mode for performing sensing and/or monitoring at afrequency that is different than (e.g., greater than) the frequency atwhich the device enters into an operational mode for performingtransmissions. For example, such a device may awaken a certain number oftimes to make successive respective sensing and/or monitoringoperations, and such data as is acquired during those operations may bestored (e.g., in a memory storage component within the device), andduring a subsequent operational mode dedicated for transmission of thedata, multiple data portions corresponding to multiple respectivesensing and/or monitoring operations may be transmitted during thatoperational mode dedicated for transmission of the data.

Also, it is noted that, in certain embodiments, such a device mayinclude both monitoring and/or sensor capability as well as wirelesscommunication capability. In other embodiments, such a device may beconnected and/or coupled to a monitor and/or sensor and serve toeffectuate wireless communications related to the monitoring and/orsensing operations of the monitor and/or sensor.

The application contexts of such devices may be varied, and someexemplary though non-exhaustive embodiments are provided in describedbelow for illustrations the reader. It is also noted that, in someapplications, some of the devices may be battery operated in whichenergy conservation and efficiency may be of high importance. Inaddition, there are a number of applications in which such devices maybe used besides in accordance with smart meter applications; forexample, certain wireless communication devices may be implemented tosupport cellular offload and/or other applications that are not normallyor traditionally associated with WLAN applications. Some applicationsare particularly targeted and directed towards use in accordance withand in compliance with the currently developing IEEE 802.11ah standard.

Various mechanisms by which access to the communication media may beachieved may be different and particularly tailored for differentcontexts. For example, different communication access schemes may beapplied at different respective times. That is to say, during a firsttime or during a first time period, a first communication medium accessapproach may be employed. During a second time or during a second timeperiod, a second communication medium access approach may be employed.It is noted that the particular communication medium access approachemployed at any given time may be adaptively determined based upon oneor more prior communication medium access approaches employed during oneor more time periods.

Also, in an application in which there are multiple wirelesscommunication devices implemented therein, different respective timeperiods may be employed for different groups of those wirelesscommunication devices. For example, considering an embodiment in whichmultiple STAs are operative within a given communication device, thoserespective STAs may be subdivided into different respective groups thatmay have access to the communication medium a different respective timeperiods. It is noted that any one given STA may be categorized withinmore than one group, in that, different respective groups of STAs mayhave some overlap in their respective contents. By using differentrespective time periods for use by different respective groups ofdevices, an increase in media access control (MAC) efficiency may beachieved among any one or more of the respective devices within thewireless communication system. Also, by ensuring appropriate operationof the overall system, power consumption may be decreased as well. Asmentioned above, this can be of utmost importance in certainapplications such as those in which one or more of the devices arebattery operated and energy conservation is of high importance. Also,utilizing different respective time periods for use by different groupsof STAs can allow for simplification in accordance with MAC or physicallayer (PHY) processing. For example, certain embodiments may employpreamble processing (e.g., such as in accordance with distinguishingbetween normal range and/or extended range type communications) forsimplification. In addition, the MAC protocol employed for certainrespective time periods can be simplified.

It is noted that the in accordance with various aspects, and theirequivalents, of the invention described herein may be generally appliedto wireless communication devices including any number of types ofwireless communication devices (e.g., STAs, APs, SMSTAs, and/or anycombination thereof, etc.), certain desired embodiments are particularlytailored towards use with one or more SMSTAs.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment 600 of a number of wirelesscommunication devices implemented in various locations in an environmentincluding a building or structure. In this diagram, multiple respectivewireless communication devices are implemented to forward informationrelated to monitoring and/or sensing to one particular wirelesscommunication device that may be operating as a manager, coordinator,etc. such as may be implemented by an access point (AP) or a wirelessstation (STA) operating as an AP. Generally speaking, such wirelesscommunication devices may be implemented to perform any of a number ofdata forwarding, monitoring and/or sensing operations. For example, inthe context of a building or structure, there may be a number ofservices that are provided to that building or structure, includingnatural gas service, electrical service, television service, Internetservice, etc. Alternatively, different respective monitors and/orsensors may be implemented throughout the environment to performmonitoring and/or sensing related to parameters not specifically relatedto services. As some examples, motion detection, temperature measurement(and/or other atmospheric and/or environmental measurements), etc. maybe performed by different respective monitors and/or sensors implementedin various locations and for various purposes.

Different respective monitors and/or sensors may be implemented toprovide information related to such monitoring and/or sensing functionswirelessly to the manager/coordinator wireless communication device.Such information may be provided continuously, sporadically,intermittently, etc. as may be desired in certain applications.

In addition, it is noted that such communications between such amanager/coordinator wireless communication device of the differentrespective monitors and/or sensors may be cooperative in accordance withsuch bidirectional indications, in that, the manager/coordinatorwireless communication device may direct the respective monitors and/orsensors to perform certain related functions at subsequent times.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment 700 of a number of wirelesscommunication devices implemented in various locations in a vehicularenvironment. This diagram pictorially depicts a number of differentsensors implemented throughout a vehicle which may perform any of anumber of monitoring and/or sensing functions. For example, operationalcharacteristics associated with different mechanical components (e.g.,temperature, operating condition, etc. of any of a number of componentswithin the vehicle, such as the engine, compressors, pumps, batteries,etc.) may all be monitored and information related to that monitoringmay be provided to a coordinator/manager wireless communication device.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment 800 of a number of wirelesscommunication devices implemented in various locations throughout abroadly distributed industrial environment. This diagram pictoriallyillustrates a number of different respective sensors that may beimplemented in various locations that are very remote with respect toone another. This diagram relates to a number of sensors that may beimplemented within different locations that have little or no wirelesscommunication infrastructure associated therewith. For example, in theoil industry, different respective pumps may be implemented in veryremote locations, and service personnel need physically to visit thedifferent respective locations to ascertain the operation of the variousequipment and components there. A manager/coordinator wirelesscommunication device may be implemented within a vehicle, or within aportable component such as laptop computer included within the vehicle,and as the vehicle travels to each respective location in which thereare such sensing and/or monitoring devices. As the manager/coordinatorwireless communication device enters within sufficient proximity suchthat wireless communication may be supported with the differentrespective sensing and/or monitoring devices, information related tosuch monitoring and/or sensing functions may be provided to themanager/ordinate wireless communication device.

While various respective and exemplary embodiments have been providedhere for illustration to the reader, it is noted that such applicationsare non-exhaustive and that any of a variety of application contexts maybe implemented such that one or more wireless communication devices areimplemented throughout an area such that those one or more wirelesscommunication devices may only occasionally provide information to amanager/ordinate wireless communication device. Any such application orcommunication system may operate in accordance with various aspects, andtheir equivalents, of the invention.

Generally speaking, certain embodiments and implementations of wirelesscommunication devices may include a number of different types of deviceclasses. For example, multiple respective device classes may existwithin a single basic services set (BSS) (e.g., such as in accordancewith a BSS operating in accordance with TGah). Moreover, not only maysuch a BSS include a number of different devices corresponding todifferent respective classes, but even within those devices within agiven class (e.g., smart meters, sensors, etc.), there may be anextremely broad range during which certain of those respective devicesare operational. For example, some of the devices will only be awake andoperational during a first very large range (e.g., such as every fewmonths, or on a monthly basis, etc.), other devices may be awake andoperational during a second relatively smaller range (e.g., such asevery few weeks or days, or on a daily or weekly basis, etc.), and yeteven other devices may be awake and operational during a thirdrelatively smaller range (e.g., such as every few hours, minutes, or onan hourly or minute type basis, etc.). As may be understood, there maybe a very broad dynamic range over which such devices may be awake andoperational.

Also, with respect to such embodiments including different types ofdevices, access to the communication medium (e.g., access to the air)should be effectively shared in an equitable manner. Of course, theremay be certain different as well as overlapping performance goals amongthese different respective devices, and access to the communicationmedium should be provided in view of meeting such various performancegoals.

Generally speaking, various novel communication medium access rules areprovided herein for operation of different respective devices to allowfor equitable coexistence there among. For example, certain differentrules may be provided on a per device class basis to ensure thatdifferent respective classes of devices will have access to thecommunication medium in an equitable manner.

In accordance with operating a communication device having differentrespective devices of different respective classes, a generalcategorization of such device classes may be provided as follows:

Multiple Device Classes

1. Z Class=Low traffic, low power consumption, e.g., smart meter,sensor, etc.

Such Z class devices may be viewed as those which typically needrelatively low frequency periodic service. That is to say, such devicesare not typically operational for extended periods of time or atrelatively high frequencies (e.g., of operation, that is). Such Z classdevices generally may be viewed as spending a majority of their timebeing a sleep, in a reduced operational mode state, etc. As may beunderstood with respect to such devices, relatively long battery lifemay be desirable. In accordance with certain smart meter and/or sensorapplications, it may be desirable such that such maintenance thereof,such as with respect to battery replacement, be performed on amulti-year type basis. As may be understood with respect to energyconservation with respect to such devices, and may be desirable tominimize power consumption during respective wake intervals during whichsuch a devices operational. When such a device exits from a sleep orreduced operational state, minimizing the time required to listen toactivity on the communication medium before transmitting may effectivelyextend battery life. Also, minimizing retransmissions may also beeffective to extend battery life.

2. H class=High traffic, modest power consumption, e.g., handset, etc.

Such H class devices may be viewed as those which typically operate inaccordance with bursty type traffic, such that while traffic may beprovided in relatively bursty communications. Maximization of batterylife (e.g., such as providing a relatively low power requirement) may becharacteristic of such devices. Also, minimization of power consumptionduring wake intervals during which such a device is operational may alsobe characteristic of such devices.

Device Class Definitions

Generally speaking, there may be some instances in which classificationof a device as belonging to one class or another may be difficult. Thatis to say, there may be some common characteristics and/or overlappingcharacteristics associated with a device corresponding to two or morerespective classes.

For example, with respect to Z class, if a power savings device (e.g., aPS wireless station (PS STA)) has not made a transmission orcommunication within a particular period of time (e.g., the previous 60seconds), then the device may be characterized as belonging to the Zclass. However, if such a power savings device has in fact made atransmission of communication within such a period of time, then thatgiven device may be categorized as belonging to the H class. Generallyspeaking, those devices that do not operate in accordance with a powersavings operational mode may generally be characterized as belonging tothe H class (e.g., a non-power savings operational STA may becategorized as belonging to the H class).

However, it is also noted that class membership of the differentrespective devices is dynamic, in that, a given device may becategorized as belonging to one class during a first time or firstperiod of time, and that same device may be categorized as belonging toa second class during a second time or second period of time. That is tosay, a given device may change its class back and forth on a desiredtemporal resolution (e.g., such as changing categorization of class backand forth on a 60 second resolution).

Alternatively, class membership may be made in accordance with a staticassignment in accordance with an expected traffic profile which may beincluded within an association exchange between devices. In such anembodiment, class membership may be static such that the respectiveassignment of a given device may not dynamically be made across a numberof classes at different respective times.

Heterogeneous Network

As may be understood with respect to such communication systems andnetworks implementing different respective devices corresponding to twoor more different respective classes, H class devices may be operativeto create certain respective periods of relatively high load andbandwidth consumption (e.g., relatively high consumption of theavailable resources over which communications may be made within thecommunication system or network). In such an embodiment in which one ormore H class devices create periods of high load, the probability ofindividual respective Z class devices waking to an idle networkcorrespondingly decreases. That is to say, as a number of H classdevices increases and more respective H class devices are operativethereby creating periods of high load with respect to the communicationsystem or network, the intermittent busyness of the communication systemor network may unfortunately cause problems for energy and/or batteryconsumption of certain Z class devices. For example, when such Z classdevices awake and listen for an opportunistic period during whichtransmissions may be made, if there is an inordinate amount of activityon the network, such devices may not be able to transmit andconsequently will expand energy and/or battery power.

For example, such a situation may arise with respect to a single BSSthat is shared by outdoor smart meter network and handset offloadservice. Given service area, it is possible that there is nearly alwaysa handset sending/receiving a burst of traffic. As may be understood,waking low-traffic devices (e.g., Z class devices) frequently wake tobusy medium in accordance with such a situation in which H class devicescreate periods of high load to a communication system or network, andsuch low-traffic devices (e.g., Z class devices) might not even knowthat the communication medium is busy because of hidden node problems.

Interactions Between Different Respective Device Classes

1. H with H: Interactions between such devices may be characterized asbeing mostly awake when attempting to transmit, allowing synchronizationwith medium state. Generally speaking, such interaction may beimplemented to perform in accordance with certain existing IEEE 802.11systems, standards, protocols, and/or recommended practices. However, inthe situation in which different respective hidden nodes may exist,certain considerations may be made in addition to certain existing IEEE802.11 systems, standards, protocols, and/or recommended practices.

2. Z with Z: Interactions between such devices may be characterized asbeing mostly asleep such that the different respective Z class deviceshave a relatively low probability of interacting with one another.However, it is noted that such is the class devices are not guaranteednot to interact with one another. The probability of interaction betweensuch Z class devices may be decreased if desired and according tocertain operations.

3. H with Z: Interactions between such devices may be characterized asbeing of relatively high activity rate combined with certain hidden nodeproblems and/or issues. Such hidden node problems and/or issues mayunfortunately cause excessive power consumption for awake Z classdevices, in that, communications may be lost due to a number of reasons(e.g., collisions with other communications made by a hidden node, awakening and listening only to determine that communications areactually ongoing over the network, etc.).

With respect to certain types of devices, such as Z class devices (e.g.,alternatively referred to as sleep class device), energy and/or powersavings (e.g., reduced functionality operation, low power operation,etc.) may be an important operational consideration (e.g., such aswithin battery powered operations). Awakening from a less than fullpower state (e.g., from a sleep state, from a reduced functionalitystate, etc.) to attempt a communication (e.g., transmission) and/or tomonitor for communication activity on the communication medium can bevery consumptive of energy and/or power. For example, when a device,such as a Z class device, wakes to a busy communication medium thatdevice must wait for access attempt. Again, this may consume significantpower in respective Listen, Receive, etc. states while waiting forbackoff to countdown and between communication (e.g., transmission)attempts.

Herein, a novel solution is presented by which a device (e.g., Z classdevice) may perform a backoff snooze (e.g., a backoff countdown from astarting value, such as received from a beacon as provided from anaccess point (AP)) to allow the device (e.g., Z class device) to snoozeduring backoff countdown, and such operation may be performedindependent of the state of the communication medium. Also, it is notedthat such operation may be performed outside of a restricted accesswindow (RAW) corresponding to a time period in which one or morecommunication devices of a first class (e.g., Z class) has access to thecommunication medium but other classes of devices do not. Such a windowmay alternatively be referred to as a UTIM window (which mayalternatively be referred to as a restricted access window (RAW) or a Zclass window) may be understood with respect to operation of differentrespective devices. For example, with respect to the different types ofdevices, a Z class device may be authorized to operate outside of the Zclass window. However, an H class device may be characterized as neveroperating within a Z class window. A Z class window (or UTIM, RAW, etc.)may be characterized as ending after N idle L SLOT slots, after UTIM orafter deferral after a Wth clear to send (CTS) (whichever comes first).With respect to collisions occurring within a Z class window, a backoff(e.g., such as in accordance with an exponential backoff) may beexecuted across multiple UTIMs.

With respect to backoff snooze operation, if a communication (e.g.,transmission) attempt fails, then a backoff snooze countdown isperformed. Such a backoff may be counted while a given device (e.g., Zclass device) is asleep, and this may be performed regardless ofcondition or state of the communication medium. Such operation may beperformed to saves power. Even if such a device were awake, theeffective probability of tracking the condition or state of thecommunication medium accurately may be relatively low. Relativelyspeaking, there can be a relatively high probability that a majority ofother non-AP operative devices (e.g., STAs) can be are hidden from atleast energy detection (ED) and probably also cooperative relay service(CRS) detect.

In some embodiments, such a backoff time increment (e.g., Z_SLOT) isequal to minimum wait time (e.g., Z_SLOT=maxPPDU+SIFS+ACK=MINWAIT time).Such a device (e.g., Z class device) may also perform preemption to makecommunication (e.g., transmission) attempt (e.g., under the assumptionthat synchronization of the state of the communication medium isattained).

Such a backoff snooze may be performed based on a codeword (e.g., suchas from a codeword value received in a beacon [such as received from anaccess point (AP)). Such a codeword for backoff snooze may be a separatevalue. For example, such a given AP may operate to include backoffsnooze codeword value in beacons provided there from. As such, differentrespective backoff snooze codeword values can change dynamically (e.g.,different respective backoff snoozes can be made based from differentrespective backoff snooze codeword values).

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment 900 of a wirelesscommunication system including multiple wireless communication devices.Generally speaking, the wireless communication system of this diagramincludes a number of different respective wireless communicationdevices, depicted as wireless communication device (or generally,device, which are depicted as WDEVs in the diagram) 901, 902 a through902 b. With respect to the devices 902 a through 902 b, it is noted thatas few as two or generally any desired number of devices may be includedtherein (e.g., including up to several thousand devices or even more).One of these devices may be implemented to operate as an access point(AP), or as a manager, coordinator, or controller within thecommunication system. Other of the respective devices may be implementedto operate as non-AP devices, or wireless stations (e.g., STAs, SMSTAs,etc.).

Generally speaking, any one of the devices (e.g., 901, 902 a through 902b), may be implemented to attempt a communication (e.g., transmission)to another one of the devices. If such a communication fails, thatattempting device may then perform a backoff snooze countdown, and afterthe completion of such backoff snooze countdown, the device mayre-attempt such communication. Also, in some embodiments, any one of thedevices (e.g., 901, 902 a through 902 b), may be implemented to monitorfor activity on the communication medium (e.g., monitor the air in awireless communication system for any communications). If any activityis detected, that monitoring device may then perform a backoff snoozecountdown, and after the completion of such backoff snooze countdown,either attempt a communication (e.g., transmission) to another one ofthe devices or resume monitoring for activity on the communicationmedium. This process may continue more than once (e.g., if activity isdetected in any monitoring of the communication medium or after anytransmission failure attempt), the operation of the device may continue.

FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are diagrams illustrating embodiments of methods1000 and 1100, respectively, for operating one or more wirelesscommunication devices.

Referring to method 1000 of FIG. 10, the method 1000 begins by operatinga radio (e.g., of a smart meter station (SMSTA)) to supportcommunications with at least one wireless communication device within awireless local area network (WLAN) via a wireless communication medium,as shown in a block 1010. The method 1000 continues by operating theSMSTA in less than full power state for relatively longer time durationthan in a full power state, as shown in a block 1020. The method 1000then operates by awakening the SMSTA from the less than full power stateand monitoring for communication activity of the wireless communicationmedium, as shown in a block 1030.

Then, if any communication activity is detected (per the decision blockin decision block 1040), the method 1000 continues by performing abackoff snooze countdown for a period of time during which the SMSTA tooperate in the less than full power state, and after expiration of thebackoff snooze countdown, awakening the SMSTA from the less than fullpower state and monitor for the communication activity of the wirelesscommunication medium, as shown in a block 1050.

Alternatively, if no communication activity is detected (per thedecision block in decision block 1040), the method 1000 continues bydirecting the radio to effectuate at least one communication with atleast one wireless communication device, as shown in a block 1060.

Referring to method 1100 of FIG. 11, the method 1100 begins by operatinga radio (e.g., of an SMSTA) to attempt a transmission to at least onewireless communication device within a wireless local area network(WLAN) via a wireless communication medium, as shown in a block 1110.

Then, if such communication attempt fails (e.g., such as because ofcollision with another communication) (per the decision block indecision block 1120), the method 1100 continues by entering the SMSTAinto a less than full power state (e.g., sleep, reduced functionality,power savings, etc.) and performing a backoff snooze countdown (e.g.,from a codeword value received in a beacon [such as received from anAP], etc.), as shown in a block 1130. Alternatively, absent failure ofthe communication attempt (per the decision block in decision block1120), the method 1100 continues by completing the transmission, asshown in a block 1140.

It is also noted that the various operations and functions as describedwith respect to various methods herein may be performed within awireless communication device, such as using a baseband processingmodule and/or a processing module implemented therein, (e.g., such as inaccordance with the baseband processing module 64 and/or the processingmodule 50 as described with reference to FIG. 2) and/or other componentstherein including one of more baseband processing modules, one or moremedia access control (MAC) layers, one or more physical layers (PHYs),and/or other components, etc. For example, such a baseband processingmodule can generate such signals and frames as described herein as wellas perform various operations and analyses as described herein, or anyother operations and functions as described herein, etc. or theirrespective equivalents.

In some embodiments, such a baseband processing module and/or aprocessing module (which may be implemented in the same device orseparate devices) can perform such processing to generate signals fortransmission using at least one of any number of radios and at least oneof any number of antennae to another wireless communication device(e.g., which also may include at least one of any number of radios andat least one of any number of antennae) in accordance with variousaspects of the invention, and/or any other operations and functions asdescribed herein, etc. or their respective equivalents. In someembodiments, such processing is performed cooperatively by a processingmodule in a first device, and a baseband processing module within asecond device. In other embodiments, such processing is performed whollyby a baseband processing module or a processing module.

As may be used herein, the terms “substantially” and “approximately”provides an industry-accepted tolerance for its corresponding termand/or relativity between items. Such an industry-accepted toleranceranges from less than one percent to fifty percent and corresponds to,but is not limited to, component values, integrated circuit processvariations, temperature variations, rise and fall times, and/or thermalnoise. Such relativity between items ranges from a difference of a fewpercent to magnitude differences. As may also be used herein, theterm(s) “operably coupled to”, “coupled to”, and/or “coupling” includesdirect coupling between items and/or indirect coupling between items viaan intervening item (e.g., an item includes, but is not limited to, acomponent, an element, a circuit, and/or a module) where, for indirectcoupling, the intervening item does not modify the information of asignal but may adjust its current level, voltage level, and/or powerlevel. As may further be used herein, inferred coupling (i.e., where oneelement is coupled to another element by inference) includes direct andindirect coupling between two items in the same manner as “coupled to”.As may even further be used herein, the term “operable to” or “operablycoupled to” indicates that an item includes one or more of powerconnections, input(s), output(s), etc., to perform, when activated, oneor more its corresponding functions and may further include inferredcoupling to one or more other items. As may still further be usedherein, the term “associated with”, includes direct and/or indirectcoupling of separate items and/or one item being embedded within anotheritem. As may be used herein, the term “compares favorably”, indicatesthat a comparison between two or more items, signals, etc., provides adesired relationship. For example, when the desired relationship is thatsignal 1 has a greater magnitude than signal 2, a favorable comparisonmay be achieved when the magnitude of signal 1 is greater than that ofsignal 2 or when the magnitude of signal 2 is less than that of signal1.

As may also be used herein, the terms “processing module”, “module”,“processing circuit”, and/or “processing unit” (e.g., including variousmodules and/or circuitries such as may be operative, implemented, and/orfor encoding, for decoding, for baseband processing, etc.) may be asingle processing device or a plurality of processing devices. Such aprocessing device may be a microprocessor, micro-controller, digitalsignal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, fieldprogrammable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logiccircuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device thatmanipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based on hard coding of thecircuitry and/or operational instructions. The processing module,module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit may have anassociated memory and/or an integrated memory element, which may be asingle memory device, a plurality of memory devices, and/or embeddedcircuitry of the processing module, module, processing circuit, and/orprocessing unit. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory (ROM),random access memory (RAM), volatile memory, non-volatile memory, staticmemory, dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or any devicethat stores digital information. Note that if the processing module,module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit includes more thanone processing device, the processing devices may be centrally located(e.g., directly coupled together via a wired and/or wireless busstructure) or may be distributedly located (e.g., cloud computing viaindirect coupling via a local area network and/or a wide area network).Further note that if the processing module, module, processing circuit,and/or processing unit implements one or more of its functions via astate machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logiccircuitry, the memory and/or memory element storing the correspondingoperational instructions may be embedded within, or external to, thecircuitry comprising the state machine, analog circuitry, digitalcircuitry, and/or logic circuitry. Still further note that, the memoryelement may store, and the processing module, module, processingcircuit, and/or processing unit executes, hard coded and/or operationalinstructions corresponding to at least some of the steps and/orfunctions illustrated in one or more of the Figures. Such a memorydevice or memory element can be included in an article of manufacture.

The present invention has been described above with the aid of methodsteps illustrating the performance of specified functions andrelationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of these functionalbuilding blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined hereinfor convenience of description. Alternate boundaries and sequences canbe defined so long as the specified functions and relationships areappropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences arethus within the scope and spirit of the claimed invention. Further, theboundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarilydefined for convenience of description. Alternate boundaries could bedefined as long as the certain significant functions are appropriatelyperformed. Similarly, flow diagram blocks may also have been arbitrarilydefined herein to illustrate certain significant functionality. To theextent used, the flow diagram block boundaries and sequence could havebeen defined otherwise and still perform the certain significantfunctionality. Such alternate definitions of both functional buildingblocks and flow diagram blocks and sequences are thus within the scopeand spirit of the claimed invention. One of average skill in the artwill also recognize that the functional building blocks, and otherillustrative blocks, modules and components herein, can be implementedas illustrated or by discrete components, application specificintegrated circuits, processors executing appropriate software and thelike or any combination thereof.

The present invention may have also been described, at least in part, interms of one or more embodiments. An embodiment of the present inventionis used herein to illustrate the present invention, an aspect thereof, afeature thereof, a concept thereof, and/or an example thereof. Aphysical embodiment of an apparatus, an article of manufacture, amachine, and/or of a process that embodies the present invention mayinclude one or more of the aspects, features, concepts, examples, etc.described with reference to one or more of the embodiments discussedherein. Further, from figure to figure, the embodiments may incorporatethe same or similarly named functions, steps, modules, etc. that may usethe same or different reference numbers and, as such, the functions,steps, modules, etc. may be the same or similar functions, steps,modules, etc. or different ones.

Unless specifically stated to the contra, signals to, from, and/orbetween elements in a figure of any of the figures presented herein maybe analog or digital, continuous time or discrete time, and single-endedor differential. For instance, if a signal path is shown as asingle-ended path, it also represents a differential signal path.Similarly, if a signal path is shown as a differential path, it alsorepresents a single-ended signal path. While one or more particulararchitectures are described herein, other architectures can likewise beimplemented that use one or more data buses not expressly shown, directconnectivity between elements, and/or indirect coupling between otherelements as recognized by one of average skill in the art.

The term “module” is used in the description of the various embodimentsof the present invention. A module includes a functional block that isimplemented via hardware to perform one or module functions such as theprocessing of one or more input signals to produce one or more outputsignals. The hardware that implements the module may itself operate inconjunction software, and/or firmware. As used herein, a module maycontain one or more sub-modules that themselves are modules.

While particular combinations of various functions and features of thepresent invention have been expressly described herein, othercombinations of these features and functions are likewise possible. Thepresent invention is not limited by the particular examples disclosedherein and expressly incorporates these other combinations.

1. A smart meter station (SMSTA), comprising: a radio to supportcommunications with at least one wireless communication device within awireless local area network (WLAN) via a wireless communication medium;and at least one processor to: operate the SMSTA, which is a batterypowered device, in less than full power state for relatively longer timeduration than in a full power state; and awaken the SMSTA from the lessthan full power state and monitor for communication activity of thewireless communication medium: when communication activity is detectedon the wireless communication medium, perform a backoff snooze countdownfor a period of time during which the SMSTA to operate in the less thanfull power state, and after expiration of the backoff snooze countdown,awaken the SMSTA from the less than full power state and monitor for thecommunication activity of the wireless communication medium; and when nocommunication activity detected on the wireless communication medium,direct the radio to effectuate at least one communication with at leastone wireless communication device; and wherein: the radio to receive abeacon from an access point (AP); and the backoff snooze countdown basedon a codeword value included within the beacon.
 2. The SMSTA of claim 1,wherein: at least one processor to awaken the SMSTA from the less thanfull power state and attempt to effectuate the at least onecommunication with the at least one wireless communication device; andwhen the attempt to effectuate the at least one communication fails, theat least one processor to perform at least one additional backoff snoozecountdown for a period of time during which the SMSTA to operate in theless than full power state.
 3. The SMSTA of claim 1, wherein: the atleast one processor to awaken the SMSTA from the less than full powerstate and monitor for the communication activity of the wirelesscommunication medium only outside of a restricted access window (RAW)corresponding to a time period in which no wireless communication deviceof a first class having the access to the wireless communication mediumand only the at least one wireless communication device of a secondclass having the access to the wireless communication medium.
 4. TheSMSTA of claim 1, wherein: the radio to receive at least one additionalbeacon from the AP; the at least one processor to perform at least oneadditional backoff snooze countdown for at least one additional periodof time during which the SMSTA to operate in the less than full powerstate; and the at least one additional backoff snooze countdown based ona second codeword value included within the at least one additionalbeacon.
 5. The SMSTA of claim 1, wherein: the at least one wirelesscommunication device being at least one of an access point (AP) and awireless station (STA) within the WLAN.
 6. A smart meter station(SMSTA), comprising: a radio to support communications with at least onewireless communication device within a wireless local area network(WLAN) via a wireless communication medium; and at least one processorto: operate the SMSTA in less than full power state for relativelylonger time duration than in a full power state; and awaken the SMSTAfrom the less than full power state and monitor for communicationactivity of the wireless communication medium: when communicationactivity is detected on the wireless communication medium, perform abackoff snooze countdown for a period of time during which the SMSTA tooperate in the less than full power state, and after expiration of thebackoff snooze countdown, awaken the SMSTA from the less than full powerstate and monitor for the communication activity of the wirelesscommunication medium; and when no communication activity detected on thewireless communication medium, direct the radio to effectuate at leastone communication with at least one wireless communication device. 7.The SMSTA of claim 6, wherein: at least one processor to awaken theSMSTA from the less than full power state and attempt to effectuate theat least one communication with the at least one wireless communicationdevice; and when the attempt to effectuate the at least onecommunication fails, the at least one processor to perform at least oneadditional backoff snooze countdown for a period of time during whichthe SMSTA to operate in the less than full power state.
 8. The SMSTA ofclaim 6, wherein: the SMSTA is a battery powered device; and the SMSTAto operate in the less than full power state for at least one order ofmagnitude relatively longer time duration than in the full power state.9. The SMSTA of claim 6, wherein: the at least one processor to awakenthe SMSTA from the less than full power state and monitor for thecommunication activity of the wireless communication medium only outsideof a restricted access window (RAW) corresponding to a time period inwhich no wireless communication device of a first class having theaccess to the wireless communication medium and only the at least onewireless communication device of a second class having the access to thewireless communication medium.
 10. The SMSTA of claim 6, wherein: theradio to receive a beacon from an access point (AP); and the backoffsnooze countdown based on a codeword value included within the beacon.11. The SMSTA of claim 6, wherein: the backoff snooze countdown based ona first codeword value; the at least one processor to perform at leastone additional backoff snooze countdown for at least one additionalperiod of time during which the SMSTA to operate in the less than fullpower state; and the at least one additional backoff snooze countdownbased on a second codeword value.
 12. The SMSTA of claim 6, wherein: theradio to receive a first beacon from an access point (AP); the backoffsnooze countdown based on a first codeword value included within thefirst beacon; the radio to receive a second beacon from the AP; the atleast one processor to perform at least one additional backoff snoozecountdown for at least one additional period of time during which theSMSTA to operate in the less than full power state; and the at least oneadditional backoff snooze countdown based on a second codeword valueincluded within the second beacon.
 13. The SMSTA of claim 6, wherein:the at least one wireless communication device being at least one of anaccess point (AP) and a wireless station (STA) within the WLAN.
 14. Amethod for operating a smart meter station (SMSTA), the methodcomprising: operating a radio of the SMSTA to support communicationswith at least one wireless communication device within a wireless localarea network (WLAN) via a wireless communication medium; operating theSMSTA in less than full power state for relatively longer time durationthan in a full power state; awakening the SMSTA from the less than fullpower state and monitor for communication activity of the wirelesscommunication medium: when communication activity is detected on thewireless communication medium, performing a backoff snooze countdown fora period of time during which the SMSTA to operate in the less than fullpower state, and after expiration of the backoff snooze countdown,awakening the SMSTA from the less than full power state and monitor forthe communication activity of the wireless communication medium; andwhen no communication activity detected on the wireless communicationmedium, directing the radio to effectuate at least one communicationwith at least one wireless communication device.
 15. The method of claim14, further comprising: awakening the SMSTA from the less than fullpower state and attempt to effectuate the at least one communicationwith the at least one wireless communication device; and when theattempt to effectuate the at least one communication fails, performingat least one additional backoff snooze countdown for a period of timeduring which the SMSTA to operate in the less than full power state. 16.The method of claim 14, wherein: the SMSTA is a battery powered device;and the SMSTA to operate in the less than full power state for at leastone order of magnitude relatively longer time duration than in the fullpower state.
 17. The method of claim 14, further comprising: awakeningthe SMSTA from the less than full power state and monitor for thecommunication activity of the wireless communication medium only outsideof a restricted access window (RAW) corresponding to a time period inwhich no wireless communication device of a first class having theaccess to the wireless communication medium and only the at least onewireless communication device of a second class having the access to thewireless communication medium.
 18. The method of claim 14, furthercomprising: operating the radio of the SMSTA to receive a beacon from anaccess point (AP); and wherein: the backoff snooze countdown based on acodeword value included within the beacon.
 19. The method of claim 14,further comprising: the at least one processor to perform at least oneadditional backoff snooze countdown for at least one additional periodof time during which the SMSTA to operate in the less than full powerstate; and wherein: the backoff snooze countdown based on a firstcodeword value; and the at least one additional backoff snooze countdownbased on a second codeword value.
 20. The method of claim 14, wherein:the at least one wireless communication device being at least one of anaccess point (AP) and a wireless station (STA) within the WLAN.